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Today’s blog posts answers a Cutting for Business reader’s question: How do you ship fragile handmade products? My best advice for shipping fragile items is to double box them and use bubble wrap.
Step-by-Step Guide to Package Fragile Products
- Wrap your handmade product in bubble wrap or packing paper.
- Put your handmade product in a box and tape it closed.
- Wrap the sealed box in bubble wrap and place it in a larger box.
- Seal the box and attach your shipping label.
The Shake Test
Before you send your package out, shake it – hard! If you hear your product rattling around inside, it isn’t packaged well enough to withstand shipping. However, if it’s nice and quiet – you are good to go!
That’s it to packaging your fragile handmade products. Yes, you might spend a few extra cents in packaging materials but your fragile goods should arrive unharmed. If you are in need of shipping materials, my favorite place is uline.com. How do you package your fragile handmade products? Let me know in the comments.
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.
Cathy Llewelyn
Tuesday 18th of August 2020
Hi, I sell Honeycomb Onyx, This is a very fragile rock used for painting on. They are quite beautiful and like I said fragile. I was hoping I could get some advice on how to package for shipping for effeciently, both time and money. It take me a good day to wrap a large flat rate box of onyx pieces to go out. I wrap each onyx piece individually in bubble wrap then wrap with cardboard and finally I shrink wrap the whole thing. This is very time consuming. I would love to hear any suggestion to help speed up the process. Thank You Cathy
Christine, Cutting for Business
Monday 31st of August 2020
Have you considered double boxing instead? It might go something like this: onyx, bubble wrap, box, bubble wrap, box.
mk
Sunday 12th of February 2017
I am forwarding your article to a major scrapbooking company online who recently send me a machine NOT in the original packaging (they claimed that was how it was sent to them) and just set inside a box ( no padding of any kind!). Needless to say the machine didn't work. When they sent a replacement, same careless packaging received with damage on all four side of the box.. Now they lost a customer and have two damaged machines..which I am sure well be re-sold. I will be buying shipping items from you! Thanks for the great info.
Christine
Sunday 12th of February 2017
Oh dear, what a bummer - and very unprofessional!
Ashley
Friday 11th of March 2016
Do you get your boxes from u line also? For the boxes I need the prices are good, but for $50 to ship, I would be hurting my bottom line
Christine
Friday 11th of March 2016
Hi Ashley! I do buy boxes from Uline. Generally, I place huge box orders and only order 3 times per year. Hope that helps!
Nanci Haskin
Thursday 14th of January 2016
Thank you for the shipping supply link! So hard to find boxes the correct size!
Christine
Thursday 14th of January 2016
No problem, Nanci! Uline is a fabulous company to do business with! Christine
Jordan
Tuesday 12th of January 2016
Thank you! :) You are seriously the best. I so love this blog!
Christine
Tuesday 12th of January 2016
Hey Jordan! Thanks for commenting! You are pretty awesome, too! Glad to have you as a reader! Christine